Early Curiosity: Video Games and First Lines of Code
Born and raised in what is now North Macedonia, my story isn’t unique — like many kids, I played video games. Wanting to make my own games led me to search online for “how to make a video game,” and that’s how I discovered programming. I tried following tutorials on W3Schools and Codecademy, but it wasn’t until high school that I really dove in. During my first year, we started learning C++, and nearly a decade later, I still have some of that early code — messy as it was, it sparked a lifelong curiosity.
High School Beginnings: C++, ReactJS, and the First Projects
In 2018, I moved to Italy and enrolled in a technical high school (ITIS) focusing on Computer Science and Telecommunications. The first couple of years were challenging — learning the language and keeping up with coursework wasn’t easy. But as my Italian improved, my interest in programming grew.
By my third year, I was introduced to ReactJS and web development. I collaborated on a small project (chat app) with a classmate, though we eventually abandoned it. That experience, however, sparked my curiosity about building real applications.
In my fourth year, I built my first full project: a CLI password manager in Java. I explored encryption, hashing, salting, and databases — concepts that gave me a much deeper understanding of security and application design.
Hands-On Experience: Erasmus and IoT Adventures
At the end of my fourth year, I was selected, along with a dozen classmates, for a five-week Erasmus trip to Lugo, Spain. There, I worked part-time in a phone/electronics repair shop. I didn’t exactly shine at soldering — I may have burned one or two boards — but that misadventure led to something better. The shop owner introduced me to an IoT project: building a device to measure the resistance of electronic boards and send the data to a message broker.
During these four weeks, I learned about IoT, device communication, the MQTT protocol, tinkering with a Raspberry Pi, and writing Python scripts to make the Raspberry Pi interact with a breadboard.
Final Year of High School: Advanced Web and Client-Server Architecture
In my last year of high school, I focused on understanding how the web works: client-server architecture, HTTP, APIs, web security, databases and more. I applied these concepts in a real-world project that is still being used today — a POS (Point of Sale) web application for a fast-food shop. The system handles thousands of orders, helping staff manage orders more efficiently and minimizing mistakes.
Working on this project taught me not only the technical aspects of building reliable web applications but also the importance of designing solutions that solve real-world problems. Although there were many technical imperfections in the project, it was my first experience working on a software product that others would use. I also got my first taste of client interaction and team collaboration, as a classmate helped me with some of the frontend work
Lesson learned: Real-world projects rarely go perfectly, but they teach lessons in software development, teamwork, and managing client expectations that no tutorial ever can.
Getting Hired: From Student to Professional
At the end of my fifth year of high school, I was hired as a software developer at one of Italy’s top consulting companies, Engineering Ingegneria Informatica S.p.A., where I still work today. My focus has been on Dynamics 365 CRM, and along the way I’ve picked up C# and .NET on the job while continuing to sharpen my ReactJS skills.
Beyond the technical growth, this role has given me opportunities to collaborate closely with teams and take on responsibility. I’ve trained three new colleagues (with a fourth on the way) and have recently been assigned as a tech lead on two projects — one ongoing and one about to start.
Reflections
Looking back, my journey from a curious kid fascinated by video games to a professional software developer has been full of trial, error, and growth. From writing messy C++ snippets in high school to exploring IoT, building real-world applications and now leading projects in a consulting company, each step has pushed me further along the path.
What started as curiosity turned into a career where I get to learn new technologies, work with talented colleagues, and mentor others. The past few years taught me that technical skills matter, but so do persistence, collaboration, and the ability to adapt.
Three years into my professional career, I know I’m just at the beginning. There’s so much more to build, learn, and share — and I’m excited for the challenges ahead.